The L.A. Times music blog

Calling all Phish fans who have been spinning their wheels of late followingWidespread Panic and moe.: Your leaders have returned. After a five-year hiatus from touring, Phish will take to the road after a March reunion performance in Hampton, Va.

But the bummer continues for any, ahem, "phans" residing west of the Mississippi: St. Louis, Mo., is as far west as the band is traveling this summer, and questions to the band's publicist about possible plans for a second leg were met with a curt, "The press release contains all confirmed information."

So, pack up the Subaru if you want to be on the safe side, left coasters -- it's not like the hardcore fans are averse to such road trips, anyway. And hey, you can even stop in Branson on the way back for a real hallucinogenic experience.

But there may be a nugget of hope buried among the tour dates for those who want to get the most bang for their concert dollar. There's a curious series of open dates on Phish's itinerary between June 9 and 16, coincidentally the scheduled dates for Bonnaroo 2009 (a hot, yet still unconfirmed rumor Rolling Stone reported back in December). Let the speculation "run like an antelope."

As if that weren't enough for jam-band fans, Phish's inspiration -- or at least a modified version -- is hitting the road as well this spring. The Dead, or the Grateful Dead minus Jerry Garcia, is back on the tour bus for, coincidentally, the first time since 2004. And, with a stop at the Forum they even acknowledge that a few of their fans might live in California. Shucks, we didn't get you anything.